Some classes require more of me than others.
Last week I was covering the CAD (computer aided drafting) class. (The teacher was on jury duty. It was déjà vu all over again.)
The kiddos work independently. There are YouTube videos that show how to complete the assignments, and the kiddos are supposed to follow along and then duplicate them in the actual software. This may sound simple, but the software is not, and it's easy to get lost or make an error and not be sure why something's not working as the video describes.
In practice, this means I sit back while they work. And besides taking roll at the beginning of the period and passing out wipes at the end (Covid protocols have them wiping down their desk areas at the end of each period), there's not much for me to do other than "supervise".
This can be boring (especially when they're mostly behaving). So, on Wednesday I decided to bring something to work on. The octopus hat.
I figured I'd have a couple hours to get some of those tentacles done.
Crochet (or knitting) is a great take-along project at school. It keeps me alert. I can pay better attention to the kiddos while I have my physical white noise. Seriously, I notice that I have more energy at the end of a day when I had something to do with my hands as opposed to just watching a class do its work.
Second period arrived. I noticed that one of the students wasn't getting a whole lot done. He admitted that he was stuck. So, we spent a while going through the video, trying to figure out where he went wrong.
This is one of those instances where their teacher could probably pinpoint the issue quickly. Alas, I can only watch the video along side the student and see if I can figure out what he's not copying exactly. I was able to figure out the issue on Monday, but this time I was flummoxed.
Then, in third period, a different student, who hadn't actually been attending school, couldn't get his files to load. I ran through my usual fixes (restarting the computer, having the student use a different classroom computer), but they didn't work. In the end, I had to contact the tech guy to take a look at things.
The tech guy worked half of that period and half of the next to get the issue solved. (The next day the student could continue working.)
How much crocheting did I get done that day? Not a whole lot. Because, of course, the day I brought something to keep me busy, the students kept me busy instead.
I mean, that is my job after all. So, it wasn't a bad thing.
Of course, you're not able to do your project when you bring it, but if you leave it home you'll have time on your hands...
ReplyDeleteExactly. Every. Single. Time.
DeleteWhen I worked in printing I had some days that work was really light to not much, I oftened wished I could bring painting in and work on that stuff...but that was not doable in so many ways! Hauling that stuff would be way too much. Working with oils would be a total mess cause it takes days sometimes for the paint to dry. Plus, most days I was taking the bus to and from town...haha. HOwever, I used to carry my cross stitch on the bus with me and I worked on Christmas ornaments to and from.....Happy knitting to you.
ReplyDeleteYeah, some projects are more portable than others...
DeleteOh yeah, software like that can be so complicated. Did any of the other students have any idea what to do?
ReplyDeleteCAD class sounds like one that I would've had a hard time with. I'm good with techy stuff, but I probably would've been one of those students who makes an error and can't figure out what the error is.
ReplyDeleteUsually the teacher is there and he's great at diagnosing those issues. But it is a rather specialized kind of class, for sure.
DeleteThe little I've done with CAD I thought it was fun.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
I take a book to read, thinking that I would get time to read while waiting in the queue. But as if because I brought the book to read, there would be hardly anyone in the queue!
ReplyDeleteI don't know how that would work for me. I don't crochet, I cross-stitch, but for me it requires a lot of concentration. I wonder what my "physical white noise" could be.
ReplyDeleteYou gave me something to think about!
(p.s. I'm looking for beta-readers before I pitch my novel. Are you interested?)
Interested, but right now I have no time. Maybe when things settle down a bit.
DeleteUnderstood. There will be other opportunities!
Delete